Qatar 96 has had its strongest first half-season since Sheikh Hassan and Matteo Nicolini teamed up in 2003. Four consecutive podiums putting them second in the title race, 19 points behind Victory 77, but Sheikh Hassan knows they face a tough challenge if they are to lift the title.

The Honda Formula 4-Stroke Liverpool Powerboat Grand Prix kicked off to a fantastic start yesterday (Saturday 29 September) on the unpredictable River Mersey. As the penultimate race of the 2007 season, the competitors kept their eyes on the prizes wowing the crowds with two dramatic races in which one championship was settled with a stunning win from 225 leading boat Negotiator.